a world of tea drinkers and dragon riders

Book Haul || August 2016

I’ve got quite a few books to show you today. I say this as though this doesn’t happen every month, but we can all pretend that this is a novelty – gosh! Kirstie buying books?? Who’d’ve thought!

There were a bunch of books that I bought at the end of my gallivanting around Europe in July as a last minute treat yo’ self thing and these all arrived in August. I received a couple of subscription boxes and I also went through a second hand book sale where I picked up a box of books that I’ve read but wanted to own physical copies of. And then, of course, there are the e-books (and pre-orders). Oh dear, I really do have a problem, don’t I?

BOUGHT

Most of the books here are the ones I bought in England because why not. It was very nice to grab a few books off my Wishlist finally!

The Black Arrowby Robert Louis Stevenson

Set in England during the fifteenth-century Wars of the Roses, this swashbuckling historical novel by the author of Treasure Island and Kidnapped tells the story of young Dick Shelton. Betrayed by his treacherous and brutal guardian, Sir Daniel Brackley, Dick seeks the help of John Amend-All, leader of the mysterious fellowship of the Black Arrow—and Brackley’s sworn enemy. Pitted against fierce fighters, a treacherous priest, and Sir Daniel, Dick seeks to become a knight and rescue his true love.

Brimming with adventure, suspense, and romance, this thrilling tale presents a classic portrait of England during one of its most tumultuous eras, as Dick is pulled by his loyalties to the houses of both York and Lancaster. He must make a crucial choice, for his fate and the fate of England hang in the balance.

I read Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so, that I added all of his books onto my Wishlist and this just happened to be the next one I decided to get. I can’t wait to read it and see what it’s like.

Wonderby R. J. Palacio

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances?

The main reason that I wanted to get this one was simply because I’ve heard so much about it. I don’t quite know what to expect but I certainly think it’s going to be an interesting read. And I really like the cover (which is all important).

Landlineby Rainbow Rowell

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

I AM IN LOVE WITH EVERYTHING ROWELL. I have now read both Fangirl and Carry On and loved them so much. I’m super happy that I decided to get this because I want to read absolutely every Rainbow Rowell books in existence. I neeeeed them.

The Storyteller’s Daughterby Cameron Dokey

“ONCE UPON A TIME” IS TIMELESS

In a faraway kingdom, a king has been betrayed. Deeply hurt and bitterly angry, he vows never to be deceived again. Unfortunately, the king’s plan to protect himself will endanger all of the realm’s young women, unless one of them will volunteer to marry the king — and surrender her life.

To everyone’s relief and horror, one young woman steps forward. The daughter of a legendary storyteller, Shahrazad believes it is her destiny to accept this risk and sacrifice herself.

On the night of her wedding to the king, Shahrazad begins to weave a tale. Fascinated, the king lets her live night after night. Just when Shahrazad dares to believe that she has found a way to keep her life — and an unexpected love — a treacherous plot will disrupt her plan. Now she can only hope that love is strong enough to save her.

I just loved the sound of this one, truth be told. I’d seen a few reviews of it in several places and heard all good things so onto my Wishlist it went. And it was going for cheap so I SNAPPED it up in one gulp. I’m quite excited to read it, I must say. I mean, this may or may not have something to do with my new-found love of 1001 Nights retellings . . . I’m blaming Ahdieh.

Beautiful Broken Thingsby Sara Barnard

I was brave
She was reckless
We were trouble

Best friends Caddy and Rosie are inseparable. Their differences have brought them closer, but as she turns sixteen Caddy begins to wish she could be a bit more like Rosie – confident, funny and interesting. Then Suzanne comes into their lives: beautiful, damaged, exciting and mysterious, and things get a whole lot more complicated. As Suzanne’s past is revealed and her present begins to unravel, Caddy begins to see how much fun a little trouble can be. But the course of both friendship and recovery is rougher than either girl realises, and Caddy is about to learn that downward spirals have a momentum of their own.

I think I’ve officially developed a habit of buying books that I think I’ll like without actually exploring what they’re about. I couldn’t tell you the plot for this book (to be fair, I have read the blurb, I just can’t seem to ever remember it). BUT THE COVER, oh the cover is glorious. And therefore I absolutely just had to own this.

Saga: Volume 1by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe.

From bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan, Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults.

The decision to buy this graphic novel has been a never-ending battle with myself. I’ve made several attempts to get it but every time I manage to talk myself out of it. I really want to read it and see what all the fuss is about, but I have to admit I do have my doubts. Let’s hope I’m proved wrong.

Ranger’s Apprentice, book 1-8 (sans 6)by John Flanagan

I love this series with every fibre of my being! I’ve only read up to book 9 though so I own 9-12. There was a book sale on at uni the other week where books were going for next to nothing. These book plus the one below I got for a grand total of $10AUD, *imitates Ikea advert – START THE CAR!* (I hope you also get that advert if you’re not in Australia.) Anyway. THAT IS A BARGAIN PEOPLE. I’ve read all of these obviously but now I own them and I my soul can rest in peace – well, except for the fact I don’t have book 6 yet.

The Colossus Risesby Peter Lerangis

One Boy

Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In a few months, he’s going to die.

One Mission

Jack needs to find seven magic loculi that, when combined, have the power to cure him.

One Problem

The loculi are the relics of a lost civilization and haven’t been seen in thousands of years.

Seven Wonders

Because they’re hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

I found this one at the second hand bookstore where I got the Ranger’s Apprentice books. This is a book I’d given up all hope of finding and then VOILA. I did not pass that opportunity up, nuh-UH!

The Potion Diariesby Amy Alward

When the Princess of Nova accidentally poisons herself with a love potion meant for her crush, she falls crown-over-heels in love with her own reflection. Oops. A nationwide hunt is called to find the cure, with competitors travelling the world for the rarest ingredients, deep in magical forests and frozen tundras, facing death at every turn.

Enter Samantha Kemi – an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent. Sam’s family were once the most respected alchemists in the kingdom, but they’ve fallen on hard times, and winning the hunt would save their reputation. But can Sam really compete with the dazzling powers of the ZoroAster megapharma company? Just how close is Sam willing to get to Zain Aster, her dashing former classmate and enemy, in the meantime?

And just to add to the pressure, this quest is ALL OVER social media. And the world news.

No big deal, then.

I am, firstly, in love with this cover, and secondly, really like the sound of the book. I featured this a while back for Waiting on Wednesday (a weekly feature) so when I saw that it was going for a good price the ONLY logical thing to do was to grab it, right? Yes.

PRE-ORDERS

There were some magnificent books that came out in August and these are the ones that I’ve received. I was expecting to have A Torch Against the Night in my hands by now, considering it’s been released, but the Book Depository hasn’t even shipped it. *deep breaths* A couple of these books are also ones that I received in subscription boxes that I got this month.

Recreatedby Colleen Houck

Obviously I’d be getting this one. If you don’t know, Houck is my favourite author so I AM VERY EXCITED about this series. So far is has been amazing, I mean, this *is* only the second book but shh. I love the covers for this series too – I can’t wait to jump back into this one because I was reading it but had to momentarily stop to do some readathons. It’s a hard life.

Blood for Bloodby Ryan Graudin

I am also extremely excited about this one. I will be picking this up ASAP once my readathons are finished, too. I’m so confused about me actually receiving this book – I got it in mid-August but as far as I know this isn’t released until Sep/Oct? HOW LUCKY AM I. I’m so keen to see where the story is going to go because we certainly left off in an interesting place.

The Just Cityby Jo Walton

One day, in a moment of philosophical puckishness, the time-travelling goddess Pallas Athene decides to put Plato to the test and create the Just City. She locates the City on a Mediterranean island and populates it with over ten thousand children and a few hundred adults from all eras of history . . . along with some handy robots from the far human future.

Meanwhile, Apollo – stunned by the realization that there are things that human beings understand better than he does – has decided to become a mortal child, head to Athene’s City and see what all the fuss is about.

Then Socrates arrives, and starts asking troublesome questions.

I was so excited to receive this book in The Dragon’s Hoard subscription box. I think it sounds absolutely magnificent. The blurb that is on the back of my cover is so creepy – it runs through the statistics of the population who live in this city and just ARGH. Go buy this book if you like history, that is all.

Words in Deep BlueCath Crowley

This is a love story.

It’s the story of Howling Books, where readers write letters to strangers, to lovers, to poets.

It’s the story of Henry Jones and Rachel Sweetie. They were best friends once, before Rachel moved to the sea.

Now, she’s back, working at the bookstore, grieving for her brother Cal and looking for the future in the books people love, and the words they leave behind.

This was the book in the August edition of The YA Chronicles (for which I will soon have an unboxing). It sounds super interesting and the fact that it revolves around a bookstore has me very intrigued. I’m definitely interested to see how this one turns out.

E-BOOKS

I did actually buy one of these e-books this month – and by that I mean I usually keep an eye out for the free ones that sound good and nab them, I’m not an illegal downloader, fear not. But I’ve still managed to accumulate quite a few. Will I read them? Who knows! But they’re free and sound good and don’t take up any room so why not.

Black Crownby Sarah Dalton

So I have just been lapping up this series (and this is the book I bought) so I’m 100% in for the ride and finishing off this series! I cannot wait to see how things conclude because I’ve enjoyed the first two books so much. If you like fantasy and adventure then you’ve just got to give the first book a go!

The Blemishedby Sarah Dalton

A beautiful world comes at a price…

In a world filled with stunning clones Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes are worthless and that takes away her rights: her right to an Education, her right to a normal life and her right to have a child.

Mina keeps a dangerous secret which she never thought she could share until she meets Angela on her first day at St Jude’s School. But their friendship is soon complicated by Angela’s adoptive brother Daniel. Mina finds herself drawn to his mysterious powers and impulsive nature. Then there is the gorgeous clone Sebastian who Mina is forbidden from even speaking to…

Whilst perusing iBooks (a dangerous pastime) I thought – hey! Let’s have a look at what else Dalton has published! And waddiya know? She’s got more books! This was is also free on iBooks so I figured I just download it and hopefully get around to reading it at some point.

Crystal Magicby Madeline Freeman

When tragedy forces her to move to the small town of Clearwater, Michigan, with her estranged aunt Jodi, Kristyl tries to leave her past behind. But Clearwater has secrets of its own—a mystical history that intersects with Kristyl’s life and might shed light on the inexplicable events that plague her.

When a mysterious illness threatens her aunt’s life, Kristyl will do anything to cure her. Enlisting the help of witches could save Jodi, but is dealing in magic worth the consequences?

The reason I looked at this one was because it had magic in the title. I’m shallow like that. I really do like the sound of this one, though, with someone with magic who can’t control it yadayadayada. Magic = Kirstie sold.

Ephemeralby Addison Moore

The last thing Laken Stewart remembers is the oncoming car, then bursting through the windshield.

Two months dissolve without her knowledge and she finds herself in unfamiliar surroundings with strangers who not only profess to know her but insist she’s someone else entirely.

Laken discovers her long dead boyfriend, Wesley, has been thrown into this alternate world as well. He is quick to inform her she suffered a horrible fall and that her memory hasn’t fully returned. According to Wesley the other life she had—her name, her family, they were simply a side effect of her brain trauma.

In her quest for answers she meets Cooper Flanders, the son of her psychiatrist who readily believes every word she says.

Laken Stewart knows she died on that hot July afternoon, but now she’s alive—or is she?

I think when I browse e-books that are free I get as shallow as I possibly can. I decided to download this one because of the cover. I’m not even sure I read the blurb before I decided to get it. Actually I just read the blurb now and went OH, so yes, I definitely didn’t read it. But it sounds pretty good, right? Actually it sounds amazing – I should do this more often.

The Waiting Boothby Brinda Berry

A missing boy, government agents, an interdimensional portal… Mia has one goal for her senior year at Whispering Woods High-find her missing older brother. But when her science project reveals a portal into another dimension, she learns that travelers are moving in and out of her woods in the most alarming way and government agents Regulus and Arizona are policing their immigration. Mia’s drawn to the mysterious, aloof Regulus, but it’s no time for a crush. She needs to find out what they know about her brother, while the agents fight to save the world from viral contamination. But when Regulus reveals that he knows Mia’s secrets, she begins to wonder if there’s more going on than she thought…and if she was wrong to trust him…

There was mention of travelling through portals into different dimensions in the blurb so I stood no chance with this one. (And the cover is pretty). That is all.

Magemotherby Austin J. Bailey

An invisible girl. A missing mage. A world in need…

Brinley has spent most of her life lost in her own imagination, teaching bullfrogs to do gymnastics and pretending to be invisible. Now, when a magic bell from another world summons her across time and space on a journey to find her mother, she will discover real friendship, face true evil, and overcome her greatest fears in order to save the ones she loves.

This one just sounded like it’d be a good lot of fun. It ticks all the boxes for the type of adventure I want to read about and it comes with the added bonus of having a gorgeous cover!

Fires of Alexandriaby Thomas K. Carpenter

The greatest mystery of the ancient world remains the identity of who set fire to the Great Library in Alexandria.

One hundred years later, Heron of Alexandria—the city’s most renown inventor and creator of Temple miracles—receives coin from a mysterious patron to investigate the crime. Desperate to be free of the debts incurred by her twin brother, she accepts and sets in motion a chain of events that will shake the Roman Empire and change the course of history forever.

I am weak at the knees when it comes to historical fiction, and this be historical fiction. Not only that, but it’s about the Great Library of Alexandria! Which is exciting – so quick pretend to be excited if you’re not!

A Crucible of Soulsby Mitchell Hogan

When Caldan’s parents are brutally slain, he is raised by monks and taught the arcane mysteries of sorcery.

Vowing to discover for himself who his parents really were, and what led to their violent end, he is thrust into the unfamiliar chaos of city life. With nothing to his name but a pair of mysterious heirlooms and a handful of coins, he must prove his talent to earn an apprenticeship with a guild of sorcerers.

But he soon learns the world outside the monastery is a darker place than he ever imagined, and his treasured sorcery has disturbing depths.

As a shadowed evil manipulates the unwary and forbidden powers are unleashed, Caldan is plunged into an age-old conflict that brings the world to the edge of destruction…

This fantasy book sounds right up my alley. A kid being taught sorcery BY MONKS – I mean, sign me up! I think, I hope, this will be a decent and epic read – so when I saw it going for free you betcha I jumped in.

The Devil in the Marshalseaby Antonia Hodgson

The first thrilling historical crime novel starring Thomas Hawkins, a rakish scoundel with a heart of gold, set in the darkest debtors’ prison in Georgian London, where people fall dead as quickly as they fall in love and no one is as they seem.

London, 1727. Tom Hawkins refuses to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a country parson. His preference is for wine, women, and cards. But there’s honor there too, and Tom won’t pull family strings to get himself out of debt—not even when faced with London’s notorious debtors’ prison.

The Marshalsea Gaol is a world of its own, with simple rules: Those with family or friends who can lend them a little money may survive in relative comfort. Those with none will starve in squalor and disease. And those who try to escape will suffer a gruesome fate at the hands of its ruthless governor and his cronies. The trouble is, Tom has never been good at following rules, even simple ones. And the recent grisly murder of a debtor, Captain Roberts, has brought further terror to the gaol. While the captain’s beautiful widow cries for justice, the finger of suspicion points only one way: do the sly, enigmatic figure of Samuel Fleet.

Some call Fleet a devil, a man to avoid at all costs. But Tom Hawkins is sharing his cell. Soon Tom’s choice is clear: get to the truth of the murder—or be the next to die.

A dazzling evocation of a startlingly modern era, The Devil in the Marshalsea is a thrilling debut novel full of intrigue and suspense.

I have to say, I really did hesitate over whether to get this one or not. My initial reaction every time I read the blurb is: no, this is not for me. But by the time I get to the end something in my brain is telling me that actually this sounds like it could be a lot of fun. So in the end I thought I should get it as it’s free and give it a whirl (providing I actually get around to it at some point). I have a hunch this will be good.

That’s a wrap!

Well, that was a lot of books. Sheesh. *runs in excited circles* I can’t wait to dive into all of these books! Hopefully they’re all filled with joyous times and rays of sunshine – one can hope!

This is a haul of pure glory omg. And I LOVE the cover of Magemother so I’m 100% looking that up after this so I can add it on goodreads just on, you know, cover love alone. Because that’s how I roll too.😂 AND OMG RANGER’S APPRENTICE APPRECIATION TIME!! I was so into them when I was 15 I was like shooting arrows in the backyard and begging my parents for a cloak. And also trying to walk around silently. So. #obsessed But I didn’t love the new spin-off series when I tried it last year so wah. I think I grew out of them. BUT THE FIRST SERIES IS SO SO GOOD I HOPE YOU ENJOY.
Also Wonder is amazing.
Also I want to read Rainbow Rowell’s adult books someday!!
And before I shush myself (because I can’t help gushing over books😂) I really want to read Words in Deep Blue! But I’m waiting for some reviews so I know if it’s good before I buy. But, I mean, Cath Crowley?!? SHE’S AMAZING.😍

OMG I totally *still* do that with trying to walk silently. I do it at uni all the time – I walk up quietly behind people (at a non-creepy distance) and see how long it takes them to notice me. Then I rate myself out of 10 and ponder whether I would have made a Ranger or not. Basically, I need to get out more.

I’M SO EXCITED TO READ WONDER. And I’ll be sure to write a really enthusiastic review for Words in Deep Blue if I get around to it soon but I imagine I’ll get distracted reading ALL the Rowell books first.